Neighborhood Council Group Opposes Bond Issue, Water Tax

A coalition of 34 Valley Neighborhood Councils has voted opposition to two major city and county tax proposals.

The Valley Alliance of Neighborhood Councils expressed frustration with Neighborhood Councils being bypassed by both the City Council and County Board of Supervisors. The Alliance passed resolutions of opposition Thursday for each of the local boards to consider:

-- The $3 billion bond issue being considered today to repair city streets because Neighborhood Councils were not consulted as an attempt was made to rush the measure through City Council. The Alliance backed a move to delay any city action until 60 days after "meaningful outreach" to Neighborhood Council stakeholders.

--  The storm water parcel tax being considered by County Supervisors today based on a postal ballot resembling junk mail that many residents may have thrown away. The ballot needed to be returned by today to object to the tax. Ballots that were not returned would be considered votes of approval.

Meanwhile, the Board of Neighborhood Commissioners joined the fray complaining that the city's 95 Neighborhood Councils are being overlooked in municipal decisions.

"It seems like the City Council cherry picks the issues they send to Neighborhood Councils," Commissioner Linda Lucks told the Daily News.

The commissioners, the Valley Alliance of Neighborhood Councils, the Los Angeles Alliance of Neighborhood Councils and the Neighborhood Council Budget Advocates all adopted resolutions asking for a 60-day delay on the road repair bond proposal.

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